After he hit the winning six of Yash Dayal, KL Rahul moved to the adjacent pitch, made a notional circle with his bat, play-acted as if slamming it upright, and then let out a cry that those watching on TV could have easily lip-read as 'It's my F****** ground'.
But Rahul need not have done this as he had actually made a more emphatic statement with the bat in Delhi Capitals' innings, shepherding it beautifully to victory through a well-paced 93* off 53 balls.
Of course, Rahul, who wanted to move from LSG last year, had expected his home State team RCB to go for him (he had a stint with RCB from 2013 to 2016.) Instead, he ended up with DC — its most expensive buy. And so much like Mohd Siraj and Prasidh Krishna --- the local boys bowled GT to win against RCB at Chinnaswamy earlier this season --- Rahul too made Bengaluru pay at its den.
The clash between RCB and DC was highly anticipated, with both teams vying for dominance in the IPL 2025 standings. DC hadn't lost a match this season. RCB hadn't won at home even though it scooped all its away matches.
DC faced a daunting task chasing 164 runs, especially after losing three quick wickets within the Powerplay. At 30/3, the team was in dire straits, and Rahul walked in at No. 4 to stabilise the innings. Rahul stitched a crucial unbeaten 111-run partnership with Tristan Stubbs, gradually accelerating the scoring rate. His ability to manage risks and shift gears seamlessly was evident throughout the innings.
Rahul brought up his half-century off 37 balls, showcasing his composure under pressure. He took on experienced bowlers like Josh Hazlewood, smashing 22 runs in a single over, including boundaries and a six over the bowler's head.
In the final stages, Rahul displayed his finishing prowess, hitting a six over fine leg to seal the victory for DC. His unbeaten 93 off 53 balls included seven fours and six sixes, earning him the Player of the Match award.
Rahul's celebration after the match was a powerful statement. He thumped his chest and pointed to the ground. The gesture symbolised his deep connection to the stadium and his determination to prove himself against his former franchise. This innings reaffirmed Rahul's status as one of the most formidable batters in the IPL. His ability to anchor the innings and finish games under pressure highlights his versatility and leadership qualities.
The emotional homecoming and his declaration of ownership over the ground add a personal narrative to his IPL journey, making this performance even more memorable. "Got lucky with the dropped catch. This is my ground, my home, know this (ground) better than anyone else. Something I have always done with my preparation is that I always try to adapt to different wickets (even in practice)," he said post-match.
Rahul's knock was instrumental in maintaining DC's unbeaten streak in IPL 2025. The victory solidifies their position at the top of the points table and boosts team morale. His partnership with Stubbs and the contributions from DC's spinners, Kuldeep Yadav and Vipraj Nigam, underline the team's balanced approach.
The loss exposes vulnerabilities in RCB's bowling attack, particularly in the death overs. Despite a strong start, the team struggled to contain Rahul and Stubbs, highlighting areas for improvement.